okay so this is just a short little filler chapter, I'm sorry, but it was necessary for the plot! The next chapter is probably going to be rather long, and drama-filled for Callie, so be ready! Thanks for all your reviews! Keep em comin! I love to see your feedback! -KG
Callie walked to Chance's stall he next day, feeling a little sore, yet suprisingly refreshed after a good nights sleep. The teen felt a bubble of anxiety in her stomach, but she couldn't figure out why until she passed Lucky's stall and saw Levi standing inside. Callie's heart skipped a beat and she gave the boy a small wave as he glanced up and saw her walking by.
"How's it goin, darlin? Callie, right?" Levi asked with his southern drawl.
"Yup, Levi right? I'm pretty good! How are you?" Callie replied, trying to be nonchalant.
"I'm better now. So, you gonna teach me how to saddle this thing? Cause I'm not sure I know." Levi responded with a slightly embarrassed tone.
"No problem, I'll grab Chance and we can do it together, yeah?" Callie suggested as she continued to Chance's stall.
The teen grabbed a treat out of her back pocket that she'd been saving for Chace and grabbed his halter in her other hand. Chance walked right up to the stall door, and stuck his head out, patiently waiting for Callie to put his halter on. His eyes lit up when he saw the treat in her hand, and gratefully accepted it with an appreciative nicker.
"How's my favorite boy?" Callie said to Chance as she slid on his halter and kissed his nose.
She clipped his lead rope and led him over to where Levi was waiting with Lucky.
"Here, let's go over to the arena near the tack room and grab our saddles. You do ride western, right?" Callie questioned.
"Yup! I believe so! I'll follow you!" Levi replied with a nod.
Once they reached the fence, Callie taught Levi the slip knot and they tied their horses to the railing. As they walked over to grab their saddles, Callie could sense Levi looking at her.
"Is there a reason you're staring at me?" Callie asked bluntly with butterflies forming in her stomach.
Levi coughed in suprise as Callie called him out.
"S-sorry. I didnt realize it was so obvious. You're just really pretty." Levi replied, still shocked.
Callie blushed, "Well, thank you Levi. You're not so bad yourself." She responded.
Levi laughed and opened the door to the tack room for Callie.
"Well, aren't you quite the gentleman!" Callie teased.
"It's the way I was raised. My momma didnt put up with any disrespect, and she taught me a lot about being a gentleman." Levi replied with a shrug.
Callie stared at the boy in suprise. She had only been teasing, but he answered back very seriously.
As Callie went to grab her saddle, Levi intercepted and hefted hers up on his shoulder.
"What are you doing? You cant carry both our saddles!" Callie said as she motioned for him to give her the saddle back.
"I can get both darlin, if you'll carry our bridles and blankets? If I'm here to help I'm not going to make you carry 'round this heavy thing." Levi replied earnestly.
Callie rolled her eyes, thinking he was just putting up a chivarlous act to impress her. The brunette grabbed both bridles and blankets and followed Levi back to the the horses.
As they saddled up, Callie could still feel Levi's eyes on her every now and then but she didnt mention it. Callie have Levi a few quick pointers on how to saddle, but he picked it up quickly, and soon they were both walking around the arena on their horses.
"Hey Callie! I see you met Levi! I'm glad you helped him out! We had a problem with a horse and I wasnt there to show him some things, but I was hoping you'd pick up my slack! I'm not disappointed!" Miranda said to Callie as she walked up to the rail of the arena.
Callie smiled and nodded as she walked Chance up to where Miranda was standing, Levi continued riding around the arena, giving the girls room to talk.
"It was no problem! Levi's pretty cool." Callie replied.
Miranda nodded but gave the teen a wary look before replacing it with her normal bright expression.
"Hey I need to talk to you in a few by the way! We need to start more rodeo training again tomorrow. And you have an evaluation next week with Dr. Hawthorne to make sure this therapy is working for you. I've already put in my good reports, but she just wants to check in with you since it's been almost a month an a half since you've started." Miranda explained.
"Ugh, stupid evaluations. And what time tomorrow for rodeo training?" Callie asked.
"Around 2, but you'll already be there then anyway, so it wont matter." Miranda said.
Callie nodded then continued riding, catching up to where Levi was.
"How do you like Lucky?" Callie said to Levi as she came shoulder to shoulder with him again.
"He's alright. We're still getting used to eachother. This barn has become more appealing to me since yesterday though." Levi replied.
"Whats that?" Callie questioned, confused.
"You" Levi replied with a blush.
Callie blushed even harder and shook her head.
"I'm not that great" the brunette said back.
"That seems highly doubtful to me." Levi replied with a sweet smile.
Callie laughed, "Whatever you say, cowboy." She teased.
"Callie, would you like to go on a date with me sometime? Outside of the barn, that is." Levi asked, hope in his eyes, and butterflies in his stomach.
Callie thought for a second, her thoughts flashing back to Brandon, before nodding and smiling back.
"I think I'd like that Levi." Callie said.